Starting device for internal-combustion engines.



R. J. GIBBON. STARTING DEVICE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES. 'AiPLIOATION FILED AUG. 26, 1909.

1,000,595. Pat'nted Aug. 15, 1911. s SHEETS-SHEET 1. 41 f4 1 fmneus R; J. GIBBON. STARTING DEVICE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 26, 1809.

Patented Aug. 15, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

R. J. GIB'BON. STARTING DEVICE FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLIOAIION FILED AUG. 26, 1909. v 1,Q()Q,5Q5 Patented Aug. 15, 1911.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

imtrizwm UNITED STATES PATENT ornron.

ROBERT J. GIBIBON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T9 INTERNATIONAL DEVICE COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF SOUTH DAKOTA.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1911.

Application filed August 26, 1908. Serial .No. 514,675.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT J. Gmnon, a citizen of the United States, and resident of Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Starting Devices for Internal-Combustion Engines, of which the following is a specification, and which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part thereof.

The invention relates to devices for starting internal combustion engines, and is particularly adapted for use in connection with Ironulti cylinder engines used with automoiles.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple and reliable device for starting such engines, and includes means for selecting the cylinder the piston of which is in such position that the'charge may be introduced and immediately fired.

It also includes other features as hereinafter pointed out,'and the invention consists of a structure such as is hereinafter described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which,--

. Figure 1 is a detail side elevation of a multi-cylinder gasolene engine applied to a vehicle; Fig. 21 is a detail plan section of a gasolene tank, showing the means for automatically setting the valve mechanism; Fig. 3 is a detail section on the line 33 of Fig. 4; Fig. 4 is a vertical, central section through the gasolene tank and valve mechanism; Fig. 5 is a detail perspective, partly in section, of the engine and vehicle starting mechanism; Fig. 6 is a plan section of the tank on the plane of Fig. 2, together with a diagram of the electric connections.

There is shown in the drawings a four-- cylinder engine, the several cylindersbcing designated 10, 11, 12 and 13, this engine be ing mounted immediately forward of the dashboard 14 of an automobile, following common practice. A gasolene tank 15' is mounted in any convenient position, as shown, on the rear face of the dashboard 14, and tubes 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 lead from this tank to the several cylinders of the engine and to the intake manifold 21, which connects all of the cylinders with a carbureter' conventionally shown at 22.

A hand-controlled pump is shown at 23 as being located-within the tank 15, anddis- -fioor of the vehicle in charges to a valve casing 24, also located within or upon, the tanln An air pump 26 is shown as located in the position to be operated by the foot of the operator. This pump de livers through a pipe 27 to the valve casing 24,'and with the pump 23 provides means for delivering charges of carbureted air to the engine.

The pump 23 comprises a barrel to which that numeral is applied, and a piston 28 carried by a push rod 29 which extends through a suitable stuffing box 30 vat-the top of the barrel and is provided with any suitable form of handle 31. A spring 32 coiled about the rod 29 re-acts between a stop plate 33 located within the barrel and a collar 34 fixed upon the stem, and automatically raises the plunger. An intake valve 35 is placed at the bottom of the pump barrel, and the discharge pipe of the pump is shown at 36 and leads to the valve casing 24, this pipe being provided with a check valve conventionally shown at 37. The pump 26 may be of simi lar construction, and it is not deemed necessary to show the details thereof. In lieu of a handle and pump rod, there is shown a plate 38 of such shape that the foot may be conveniently pressed upon it. I

Seated within the casing'24 is a rotative valve 39 having a passage shown as a groove 40 in its face, this groove registering continously with the valvechamber to which the two pumps deliver, and successively with the pipes 16 to 20 which lead from the valve casing. The valve 39 is controlled by a handle 41 mounted upon the valve stem By turning the valve to bring its passage 40 into register with any one" of the delivery pipes a charge may, by manipulating the two pumps, be delivereo to any one of the engine cylinders or to its intake manifold.

For the purpose of automatically selecting the engine cylinders which should next be fired, there is provided a selector, the case of which is rcpreshted at 43, into which leads a shaft 44, which in a fourcycle engine should be driven at onehalf the speed of the engine shaft 45. Upon the shaft 44 there is mounted a disk 46 within the casin 43, to which disk there is plvotally attac ed an arm 47 carrying a contact roller 48, which is forced outwardly against the wall of the casing by means of a spring,

.' tank within which the "by the valve stem 42, its

'67 mounted upon and '10: of the battery being connected by means of a wire 56. with a-ring 57 located on a plate 58 forming the cover for that part 59 of the located. The several terminals 50, 51, 52 and 53 are connected by means of wires 60, 61,62 and 63 with terminals 64, 65, 66 and insulated from the plate 58 and arranged within the circle of the ring 57 A solenoid coil 68 is carried axis being perpendicular thereto. The two ends of the coil "terminate in brushes 69 and 70: which en- I noid core is forced inward, thus permitting being gage, respectively, minals 64, 65, 66 and 67, the electric circuit therefore complete through any one of the terminals to 53 and the corresponding terminals 64 to 67, the solenoid coil, the ring 57 and the line 56. a

' The core 71 of the solenoid constitutes a latch when brought to central magnetic po-- sition by the energizing of the coil, the outer end engaging stop shoulders 72, 73, 74 and 7 5, formed onan upstanding annular flange 7 6, rising from the plate 58 and being so located that when engaged by the'core they arrest the movement of the valve 39 with its passage 40 in register with one of the delivery pipes 16 to 19, the parts bein so arranged that the .circuit will be close in time to advance the core and arrest the valve to bring the pumps into communication with the cylinder next in'order of firing.

The inner wall of the flange 76 isso formed as to constitute cams 77, 7 8,v 7 9'and 80, leading backwardly and inwardly from each of the sto shoulders,-s0 that when the valve is move backawrd by hand the. solethe valve to be turned backward at the will of the operator and permitting him to bring its port 40 into register with the outlet 20 communicating with the intake mani' fold of the engine. 1

1 In order to start the engine, therefore, in-

asmuch as the roller 48 is always in contact with that terminal of the selector which co-- operates with the engine cylinder next in 1 order-of firin it is only necessary'to turn gasolene pump in acarbureted charge r the valve 39. orward until its movement isstopped by theengagemem of the solenoid core with one of the shoulders of the flange 76; Both pumps being now operated, the

V is forced into this depend may be ed by closing the nit (not shown) in the usual-manner.

valve casing 24 is the ring 57 and the ter-.

advance ofthe air pump,

riylimrlng mixture, which might not be the case if defiring, the valve 39 is pendence were placed solely on the 'carbureter 22. j

I claim as my inventiona 1. In a starter for internal combustion engines having a plurality ofcylinders, in combination, municating passages from such source of supply to the several cylinders, adistributa source of fuel supply, coming valve for limiting such commumcation to a single cylinder,-and an electrically-actuated check controlled determining the movement of the valve. I

2. In a starter for internal combustion engines having a'plurality of cylinders, in.

comb nation, a source of fuel supply, communicating passages from such source of supply to-the several'cylinders, a distributing valve for limiting such single cylinder, a solenoid mountedwith the valve, an electric circuit, terminals arranged in pairs corresponding in number with the cylinders, stop shoulders in the path of the solenoid core when in magnetic equilibrium, brushes forming terminals of the solenoid coil and arranged to engage the members of the several pairs of named terminals, and a switch actuated by the engine to bring. such pairs of contacts successlvely into the circuit. 3. In a starter for" internal combustion engines having a plurality of cylinders, in combination, a source of fuel supply, passages connecting such source of supply'wit the several cylinders, a valve controlling such passages,'an electrically-controlled dog for arresting the valve in positions to open such passages successively, and a switch controlled by the engine for actuating the dog in its several positions. v

4. In a starter for internal combustion engines .having a plurality of cylinders, in combination, a source of fuel supply, passages connectin such the several cy inders, a valve controllin -such passages, and electrically-actuate meanscontrolled by the engine for arresting connection to a source of supply wlth by the engine for the valve in positions to open such passages successively. v

5. In a starter for reciprocating motors having a plurality of cylinders, in combination, assages-for fluid leading to the several cylin ers, a valve controlling such passages and arranged to open them successively, an electrically-actuated means controlled by the motor for determining the passage to be opened by the valve.

- bustion engine comprising a plurality of cy inders and an induction manifold common to 6. The combination: with an internal com-- a pluralit of the cylinders, of a tank, passages lea ing from the tank to the several cylinders, and to the manifold, a Valve for [to the cylinders successively.

7. The combination With an internal combustion engine comprising a plurality of cylinders, of fluid passages leading to the several cylinders, a rotatable valve for opening such passages successively, a solenoid carried by the valve, stop shoulders arranged in the path of the solenoid core when in magnetic equilibrium, cams leading back- 15 Wardly from such shoulders for forcing the core inward, and means controlled by the engine for closing the circuit of the solenoid as 1t approaches the shoulders.

ROBERT J-. GIBBON.

Witnesses:

E. M.. KLATCHER, CHARLES B. GILLSON.

Copies of this patent maybe obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patexlts,

' Washington, D. G. 

